Bad, bad news for Wong Kar-Wai fans eagerly anticipating what feels like a major creative detour from the Hong-Kong filmmaker.
Kar-Wai, the slow-moving director behind such stylish and expressionistic masterpieces as “In The Mood For Love,” “Chunking Express” and “Days Of Being Wild” (the latter being a personal favorite), may have directed the wuxia/martial arts heavy, “Ashes of Time,” but is generally recognized for his slow-burning and moody unrequited romance pictures. But maybe the dud that was his first American-language film, “My Blueberry Nights,” with Nora Jones and Jude Law convinced the director to switch gears a little bit.
Early this year, he announced a picture not many were expecting: “The Grand Master,” a biopic of Ip Man, the first Chinese man to teach the martial art of Wing Chun openly, training many major level students, including Bruce Lee. Longtime Kar-Wai acting mainstay, Tony Leung Chiu-wai was set to play the lead role.
However, there was a recent accident in preparations for the film. Leung Chiu-Wai’s arm was broken by a martial arts trainer during rehearsal for his latest role in the martial arts biopic. They apparently aren’t fucking around when it comes to the training. Shooting was originally slated to begin in September though that is now in jeopardy after the actor broke a bone in his left forearm. According to the AP, Leung must rest his arm for several weeks but can continue to train on his kicks.
However, Kar-Wai moves slow enough as it is and takes his sweet-ass time in the editing room. Hopefully Leung Chiu-Wai heals on time, because it’s conceivable, even if it shoots in the fall, the film won’t be ready for release until late 2010 or even 2011. We definitely welcome the return of this Cannes-winning director though. [Guardian]